This edition was prepared by James Gibb — free to download, print, rehearse and perform.
Abide with me (I)
Staff Notation • Sacred, Hymns
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Abide with me (I) by Joseph Barnby — Lyrics
1. Abide with me; fast falls the eventide;
The darkness deepens; Lord with me abide.
When other helpers fail and comforts flee,
Help of the helpless, O abide with me.
2. Swift to its close ebbs out life’s little day;
Earth’s joys grow dim; its glories pass away;
Change and decay in all around I see;
O Thou who changest not, abide with me.
3. Not a brief glance I beg, a passing word;
But as Thou dwell'st with Thy disciples, Lord,
Familiar, condescending, patient, free.
Come not to sojourn, but abide with me.
4. Come not in terrors, as the King of kings,
But kind and good, with healing in Thy wings,
Tears for all woes, a heart for every plea,
Come, Friend of sinners, and thus bide with me.
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About Abide with me (I)
Joseph Barnby's setting of Abide with me is a well-known hymn tune, often sung in English churches. This arrangement for SATB choir sets the familiar words of Henry Francis Lyte's hymn. The text is a prayer for God's presence during times of trial and the end of life, expressing a deep longing for divine companionship and solace. The composer's tune is known for its gentle, flowing melody, making it an accessible and poignant choice for congregational singing and choral performance alike. It captures the reflective and pleading nature of the hymn's verses, offering a comforting musical setting for its themes of reliance and faith.
